Signal device for vehicles.



1. J. Lhunmm. SIGNAL DEVICE VEIHCLES.

Patented Nov. 27, 191?.

INVENTUR ATTURNElYj UNITED stra ns PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES J. LANAHAN, or nvrruio, NEW Yonx.

SIGNAL DEVICE son vamcws To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. LANAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New -York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to a signal device for use on automobiles or other vehicles which permits the driver to notify pedestrians or drivers of other vehicles what'direction the particular driver giving the signal is about to take and also whether or not this driver is about to stop, and thereby avoid accidents.

' 'The object of this invention is toproduce a signal of this character in which the prinoipal working parts are thoroughly prorooted when-not in use, which can be mounted upon automobiles of various constructionswithout requiring any change in the fittingsof the signal device, which does not detract from the appearance of the vehicle, and inwhich the lid or door of the inclcsingcasing for the principal working parts is positively locked in its 0 on and closed positions so as toavoid inter erencewith the signaling mechanism.

n the accompanying proved signaling device showing the same in its inoperative position, the section being taken on one side of the supporting bracket upon which the semaphore arm is guided within the inclosing casing. Fi 2 is a similar view showing the signal mec anism in its operative osition, this section being taken through t e supporting bracket on which for the semaphore arm and the 11d operating mechanism taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate Specification of Letters Patent.

drawings :Figure 1' .is a vertical longitudinal section of my imthe electric circuit of the Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

Application fi ed Octobe 29,- 1915- sesame- 55,514.

corresponding parts throughout the several views. p

My improved signaling device is applicable to any suitable available part of an automobile or vehicle but as shown in the drawings the same is mounted on the dash board l'of the vehicle so that the same is within easy reach of the driver occupyin the seat of the vehicle. In" practice two 0 these signaling devices are preferably employed, one at the right hand side-of the.

dash board and another at the left hand side thereof so as to permit the driver to'either operate both signals at the same time and thereby indicate to pedestrians or the drivers of other vehicles that the respective car is about to stop, or one of these signals may be operated to the exclusion of the other for indicating to other persons the direction in which the res ective car is about to turn.

Inasmuch as't ese signal devices are identical in construction only one of them is shown in the drawings, the same bein bmounited at the left hand side of the das oar The inclosing casing or housin which adapted tov receive the; principa working parts .of the signal device preferably comprisesa horizontal bottom 2, two longitudinal side walls 3, 4, atop 5, an inner orrear end wall 6, and a horizontally swinging lid or door 7 which is adapted to open or close" a a lpassa way at the outer end of the casing ich id is preferably ivoted at one of its upright ed s to the a jacent outer edge of the front si e wall of the casing by means of a hinge 8 or other suitable means.

The place. which is most' suitable or convenient for attaching this 1 signal device varies in diflr'erent automobiles or other vehicles and an attaching bracketis therefore devised which is so designed-that the same i is universal and practicall permits of mounting the casing of the signal devlceon any avallable surface or supporting'member of thevchicle and still permit the sig-v nal to occupy its normal position when installed. The preferred form of this universal attaching bracket which is shown in the drawings is constructed as follows:

, 9 represents an attaching plate which is adapted to be secured to the dash board 1 or other supporting surface by means of screws 10, as shown in Fig. 1 or by other suitable means and which is provided with a laterally projecting eye 11, This plate and eye form' the outer section secured to the outer side of bracket.

in the opening 13 and provided at its upper end with an external screw thread wh1ch ves-aserew nut"15 engagin g'with-the 31 per side of the lug 12 while its lower end 1 prov-idedlwith aneye re, saidspindle and its and-screw nut; forming the i-ntermedr ate section--o;f-the a'ttdching bracket. The

ifidleand Its-bearing taper-upwardly so t nit-when: the' il'ut' 14'' 1s tightened the spindie Mill-"be (held securely "against turning in thebearirig 'la The eyes 11 stud 16 are i'votllymmm'ected by meansof a -horizom ta'k 17 passing through these e y loosening 15 the spindle may bejturned horizontally and "the attaching late 9""maybe turned velficallythe' le uiiia extent to bring' the attachlhg-E-plktej into the required angular positionre ativt'o the inclosi'ng casing to permit bf securing the-attaching plate to the desired surface wthe automobile." After such; adj listment the attaching; plate "and the ineloslngfcasing-are held in t 'isposition by tighteningWhGmufl-M of the spindle and the'nut 'of'the clamping bolt. As shown in sFiga- 1, 2 and "3, the attaching plate is arranged on one side of the casing and in a substahtially ver'tical' position=.- It 'will be evident," however, that by turning'the outer bra'cke'flfsect-ion" verticall v on the 'intermedi ate'braclt'et-section ah tnrning' the latter horizonta lly onthe inner bracket section, the.

casing may be adjusted to various angular positions relativelyio the vehicle.

Fer-the urpose ofaiding the clamping b'olt in hol the two eyeS-intheir rdper rel'a'tive positien these' ,eysarerovi ed on their cooperatingisi'des with serrations or teeth 18- which areada'pted to interlock and hold the attaching'plat'e reliably in the desired -pobiti'on relatively to the spindle and Y the sigtialjcasing mounted thereon.

"-A' semaphore or signal arm isarranged y'fitififl the' chsing which is preferably so constructed mav it may be projected. outwsr'dl throggthe passfig' way at'the front "gar-retracted Within the latsignal and also asairight signal. In its p're-' ferred'fdrfn this maria-emptied of a plurality o'ff pair's of'le'versi 'o'r'lin'ks'19 the 'mempairs. of' links mars so that upon mdving' these several in a direction for causing thexrrto as'siithe a'h' approximately horizontal the bolt 17 and the nut.

tbi", thisarinbeiiig provided with means a projector} position, this arm as a whole will be extended horizontally whileupon moving the same so that they assume a more nearly vertical position these links will be folded relativcly to each other and the arm as a-whole will be contracted or shortened, in the mal;- ner of lazy tongs. The innermost pairof links of "this extensible and contractible semaphore arm are mounted on a horizontal rock shaft 20 which is journaledin relatively fixed bearings 21, the innermost of the pair of links being mounted loosely on this shaft while the companion link is coir nected with this shaft so as to turn therewith, whereby upon1rocking this shaft the several pairs of links will be caused to fold and unfold and the semaphore arm'to be either contracted within the casing or -projected laterally through the passageway at the front end thereof. This rocking movement may be imparted to the shaft 20 in any suitable manner from any desired part of the car. For instance, as shown in Figs; 1,3 and 6this may be effected by providing the rock shaft with a crank arm 22- to which is attached a flexible shipper rod 23 which latter may be moved lengthwise in either direction for'causing the rock shaft to oscillate and either pro ect or retract the semaphore arm.

This shipper ro'd may be passed through an opening 24 in the upper part ofthe-rear wall of the casing, as shown in Fig. -1, or

through an openin' 25 in the lower pit of this rear wall, or t rough an opening/Y6 in the bottom of the casing for the purpose of adapting the signal device to difi'erent constructions or conditions WhlCll may be encounteredin var1ous'veh1cles. To DPllii .of-thus varying the positiomof theshipper rod relative to the casing,the crank arm a 22 is adjustably secured tothe crankshaft by means of a screw 27 or otherwise so as to permit of arranging the same on this shaft'in the required position to 'permit the movement of'the shipper rod to be properly 1 consisting of a wrist 28 pivotally mounted on the outer end of the crank arm and provided with a socket in which the inner end of tl-ie shipper rod is adjustably secured by means of'a screw 29.

()n theou'ter ends of the outermost pair of linksof the semaphore or signal armis mounted a signal head which operates as a direction signal during the day time when from the casing. This signal head prefcra'b y comprises two semi-circnlar ring sections 30 which have their outer ends pivota'lly connected with each other by means of a rivet-or pin 31, while their inner ends are 7 pivotally connected respectively by means of pins or? rivets 32 with theouter 110 transmitted to-the crank arm. The 'connec tracting the semaphore arm within the cas ing the two sections of the signal head are unfolded or spread apart into approximately. theshape of the-numerali as thesev sections follow the movement of the retracting semaphore links, as shown in Fig. 1. Various means may be provided for supporting the rock shaft and the links of the semaphore arm and guiding these links while the same are pro ected or retracted. The preferred means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings consist of a supporting and guiding bracket which is arranged within the casing and which comprises an upright base plate'33 secured to the inner side of the rear wall of the casing, and two arms 34 arranged'lengthwi'se on opposite sides of the semaphore links and provided with the bearings 21. on their inner'parts' inwhich the opposite ends of the rock shaft are journaled while their outer parts are provided 'with longitudinal horizontal slots 35in which the opposite ends of a pivot I pin 36 slide which connect the members of that pair oflinks which'are arranged next to the innermost pair. Upon rocking the shaft 20 for the pur oseof projecting or re tracting the semap ore arm the pivot 'pin 36 slides back and forth in the slots 35 of the guide arms so that the semaphore arm is reliably supported during this movement andalso maintained in its proper position either in its projected or retracted positions.

In order to utilize this device also as a. signal atnight alamp 37 consisting preferably of an electric light bulb is so mounted on the signal arm that in the projected position of this arm this lamp will be arranged in line with the space or opening formed within the space or opening of the ringshaped signal head, as shown in Fig. 2L This lamp is referably mounted on one of the links of t e outermost pair and "its terminals are ada ted to be connected with opposite sides 0 an electrical enerator 38 which may be of any suitable orm, such as a battery or a dynamo mounted on the vehicle. The electric circuit including this generator and the lam is preferably opened so as to extinguish t e lamp when the same hore arm is retracted and closed so as to il umimate the lamp when this arm is projected. This opening and closing of the electric circuit ispreferably efiected automatically by aswitch comprising two contacts 39, 40

which are arranged in the circuit of the and generator and mounted on two relatively movable parts of 'the semaphore lamp arm. As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, this is the supporting preferably accomplished by mounting these jacent semaphore links so that these contacts are engaged with each other and close the circuit when thesemaphore links are projected laterally from the casing, as shownv in Fig. 7, but are separated from each other and break the-electric circuit when the semaphore links are retracted within the casing. In order to ermit of cutting out the-electric lamp so t at the same will not be illuminated upon projecting the semapiwre arm during the daytime a separate, out out switeh il may be arranged in the electric circuit, as shown .in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for automatically openin the lid of the casing preparatory to pro ecting the semaphore arm throng the passageway of the casing and locking the lid in its open position during the-time that this arm is projected and also automatically closing the lid after the semaphore arm has been retracted within the casing and locking the lid in its closed position while said semaphore -is retracted. These means are preferably associated with the semaphore am, so that they operate in hare mony with the projecting and retract'pg movement of theflsame. The prefe'r means for accomplishing this purpose co 5 prise a vertically swinging three armed le-. ver 42', 43, 4.4 which is pivotally mountedonbracket of the semaphore arm preferably by means of a pivot pin 45 connectinglthis lever at the inner arms wit the outer sideof one of the bracket arms 34',two of these lever arms r42, 43 being arranged substantially horizontal and provided with a slot 46 which receives one end of the pin 36 while the third arm 44 projects downwardly from its pivot. The

'jlast mentioned arm 44 is-conne'cted at its lower end by a rod or link 47 with a pin 48 arranged on a. crank arm 49 rojecting inwardly from the lower part 0 the lid. The slot 46 is provided with a strai ht front portion and a downwardly curv rear ortion, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the same in efiect performs the function of a cam. In the retracted position of the semaphore arm the pivoting pin 36 engages with guiding and the curved inner part of the three armed shifting lever and turns rection which causes the same to draw-the lid or door of the casing inwardly or into its closed position, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 8, and by dotted lines in Fig. 3. As the pivot in 36 moves outwardly the same en ages with the straight outerpart of the s 0t 46 and causes the three armed end of its the latterin a dishifting lever to be turned in the opposite direction so that the lid or doorlis moved int'ov its opened position, as shoviih by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and as indicated by a 'fma'nseu dottedr linesin Rig; 8.; f That-.-,part of the said'links-is pivoted andwhich isprovided pivobPidBd-whih engages-with theslot-of withauide slot which recei vesssaid u de "the three; armed's'hiftingvlever therefore oppm, ,an a means for foldin ;and wife din crates as a tap et for shiftin thelid-into said links, compris' a r shait-cn whic 4n its opened or c osed position in addition to one of the innermost inks is mounteddoosely performin --the:function of a support for while the companion innermost link is sethe semap orearm and also as a pivotal cured thereto,-a rock arm connected with-said connection betweentwo of its links; While shaft, a shipper rod connected with said arm, the tappet or shifting pin-36 is in eitherexand-aguide' tube in which said rod slides. 50 10 treme of itsi-movement the same securely 3. Asignal device comp ising-a 'casin holdsthe slflftingylever invite-forwardlyor having apassageway and aaZ-movable =li backwardly turned positionythejreby holding adapted to open and close said-pas ageway the lid' positively'either in its opened or and pivotedto said casing on one side of closed;position-and. preventing. interference saidpassageway and provid with a crank 66 between ithe lid and thesemaph'ore arm as arm', a semaphore arm movable through'said the latter' moves outwardl or inwardly passageway into and-out of said casing and throughvthe'passageway oft e casing having-a plurality of pairs! of pivotally Ii -will be apparent-from the foregoing connected links and a shifting pin atthe that this vehicle signal is positive and relis ivota1=connection betweenwa air of said 60 able in-it's'action, that the same can'be easily iinks, a'bracket having a slot which and quickly operated so as to avoid aeclsaidpin,-a shifting lever which is actuated dents incase of an-emergency and the same by, said pin, and-a connecting rod'connecting containsno delicate parts which are liable said lever with. said crank'arm. tube deranged. 4. A signal device corn rising a casin 53 v Iclai mnrs'my invention: having a passageway an a-; mova,ble ='l'i 1-. A signal device comprising a sem-aadapted to open and close saidpassa'geway phoresarm having a plurality of pairs of and pivoted to said casing on one side of pivotally connected links, and a guide pin, saidpassageway and provided with a cr-enk; ivbracket: onwhich the innermost pair of arm, a semaphore arm, movable through said' saidlinks is pivotedwand which is provided passageway into and out of'saidcasing and with m 'uide;slotwhich reeeives said uide having) a plurality of of pivotally pin,; means for-foldin' "and unfging connected links and ashifting pin at the said-links comprising a mo shaftson ich pivotal connection-between a air of zsaid r one-bfsthe innermost linksis mounted loosely links, a bracket having a slot w ich receives while thefcompanioninnermost link is"-;--se-v said pin, a triple armed shifting1v lever havcured theretoand; -arock arm connected mg two of its arms provided wit a cam slot with'saidshagti I which receives said pin, and arod oonnect- 2.- A- signaLdev-ice comprising a semaink the third arm of said lever with the. phore arnh plurality of pairs of 'crank'arm of the lid. pivotally conneeted'li-nks, and'aguide pin,

7 onj which the innermost pair of I JAMES J. LANA-HA 

